Speakers

Emcee: NY1 News journalist Jessica Abo

Jessica Abo is an award-winning television journalist, producer and philanthropist. In 2007, she joined the NY1 News team as an on-air anchor and reporter in the Local Edition. She has covered everything from the Hudson River plane crash, Tropical Storm Irene and Hurricane Sandy to sports, food and Fashion Week. Jessica lectures around the country on a variety of journalism and philanthropy-related topics. She is a member of the Screen Actors Guild and sits on the UJA-Federation's Broadcast, Cable & Film Committee and co-chairs the Young Entertainment Executive Committee. She is also involved with Sports Angels, the Ronald McDonald House and NY1's Diversity Council.

Honoree Joanne Podell

Vice Chairman, Retail Services,Cushman & Wakefield

Ms. Podell, a 20-year professional of the real estate industry, specializes in luxury and specialty retail brokerage in Manhattan, with extensive experience in both tenant and landlord representation. Ms. Podell joined Cushman & Wakefield’s Retail Services group in 2002, and was C&W’s 2006 Leading Brokerage Professional for the Americas. Ms. Podell has received the REBNY "Retail Deal of the Year Award" twice and was named one of Real Estate New York’s Commercial Broker All-Stars in 2004. She is the former Chair of the Real Estate Board of New York Retail Stores Committee. In addition to her role on C&W’s Retail Executive Committee, her other professional affiliations include the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and New York Women Executives in Real Estate (WX).

Honoree Margaret Hayes

President, The Fashion Group International

In her role at this international non-profit organization, Ms. Hayes is the driving force and guiding hand behind 5000 members; men and women engaged in the fashion and designed related industries in 28 regions. From 1981 to 1993, Hayes held the post of Senior Vice President and General Merchandise Manager at Saks Fifth Avenue and is the recipient of numerous humanitarian and business leadership awards. Having served as a member of the Board of Directors of International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF) from 1993 to 2012, she currently serves on the Boards of the Movado Group Inc., Mosholu Preservation Corporation and Montefiore Medical Center.

Maura Regan serves as Senior Vice President and General Manager, Global Consumer Products for the nonprofit educational organization Sesame Workshop. She oversees the Workshop’s global retail business across all major categories of licensed goods including toys, apparel, home furnishings, stationery and gifts. Her division, in large part, funds the nonprofit work of the organization which is dedicated to helping kids reach their highest potential. Prior to joining the Workshop in 1999, Regan was Director, International Licensing, at Scholastic Entertainment and Director, International Licensing, at MTV Networks.

Honoree Kelly Neal Mariotti

Chief Executive Officer, First Candle

Kelly Neal Mariotti is Chief Executive Officer of First Candle, a leading national nonprofit in the field of maternal and child health. First Candle pursues its mission through research, advocacy, education and family support. Prior to her tenure at First Candle, Ms. Mariotti was well-known in the juvenile products industry as the founder of the successful Green Frog Art brand of baby and children’s furnishings, which under her leadership won many children’s industry awards and accolades. Her extensive affiliations with industry associations and nonprofits have included the Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association (JPMA), serving as JPMA Chairman in 2007-2008, All Baby and Child, Inc. (ABC), the American Society of Furniture Designers, the Jacksonville Ronald McDonald House McGala Committee, Kids In Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.) and First Candle.